Meanings of 水手
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 水手
Podcast: 水手
Podcast: 水手
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 水手
水手 (shui3 shou3) vs 船员 (chuán yuán): Use 水手 for a general term for sailors, while 船员 specifically refers to crew members on a ship.
In informal contexts, 水手 can refer to anyone who sails, while in formal contexts, it may imply a trained or professional sailor. Be cautious with tone; the third tones in both characters can be tricky. Common collocations include phrases like '职业水手' (professional sailor) or '水手服' (sailor uniform).
As this term is not directly listed in HSK levels, it is beneficial for students focusing on maritime vocabulary around HSK 3 and 4. Students should pay attention to the characters individually, as they connect to other water-related words like '水' (water) and '船' (boat).
Learners often confuse 水手 with 船夫 (chuan2 fu1), which refers to a boatman or ferryman. Remember, 水手 is more general and relates to sailors, while 船夫 is specific to those who operate smaller boats.
Pronunciation of 水手
Drill the tone of 水手 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Component Characters
How to say mariner in Chinese
“mariner” in Chinese is水手
水手 (shui3 shou3) refers to a mariner or sailor, someone who works on a ship. This term is commonly used in maritime contexts and can denote both professional sailors and those engaged in sailing as a hobby. The characters '水' meaning water and '手' meaning hand, together convey the idea of a person who works with water.
When to use 水手
In informal contexts, 水手 can refer to anyone who sails, while in formal contexts, it may imply a trained or professional sailor. Be cautious with tone; the third tones in both characters can be tricky. Common collocations include phrases like '职业水手' (professional sailor) or '水手服' (sailor uniform).
水手 or something close to it
水手 (shui3 shou3) vs 船员 (chuán yuán): Use 水手 for a general term for sailors, while 船员 specifically refers to crew members on a ship.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 水手 with 船夫 (chuan2 fu1), which refers to a boatman or ferryman. Remember, 水手 is more general and relates to sailors, while 船夫 is specific to those who operate smaller boats.
Write 水手
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 水手 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions about 水手
水手 (shui3 shou3) typically refers to sailors in a broader sense, while 船员 (chuan2 yuan2) specifically means crew members on a ship.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 水手?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.